Characterization and Sustainable Management of Municipal Solid Waste in Khulna City, Bangladesh: Collection, Recycling, and Resource Recovery Perspectives

In the twenty-first century, it is a global concern to ensure sustainability and environmental friendliness for effective solid waste recycling. The Khulna City Corporation's waste management framework and solid waste collection and recycling practices were examined in this study, which ran from July 2025 to February 2026. Because of its strategic industrial zone and proximity to the Mongla Port, Khulna is an important city in Bangladesh. In the Khulna city region, there are an estimated 785 tons of recyclable solid waste (RSW) avail-able each day, of which 30 to 40 tons are actively processed and recycled. It was discovered that the city's main collection and recycling operations involved about 2,000 individuals, including feriwalas and tokais. There were 310 identified stores for reusable materials and 277 small-scale recycling businesses (dealers) in the Khulna municipality area. The majority of these stores were found in Shiromoni, Fulbarigate, Daulatpur, Khalishpur, Shekhpara, Sonadanga, Gollamari, and Lobonchora. Paper, plastic, glass, bones, and metals (iron, aluminium, and tin) are the main recovered materials. A large amount of these materials is transported to Dhaka, the capital city, for secondary processing and manufacturing into new products, while a small amount plastic is processed in nearby recycling facilities. A vital circular loop is created by the gathering and pro-cessing of waste or used materials, which results in the production and usage of recycled commodities. With significant financial, environmental, and social benefits for the city's growing population, this method guaran-tees Khulna's recycling industry's overall success.

Secondary raw materials, Resource recovery, Municipal solid waste, Circular economy

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